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 Ravana was undoubtedly one of the mightiest warriors of his times. He is fond of repeating his prowess, shamelessly. Like a tiger that needs to roar before its leap, just to inflate its own ego, he keeps mentioning his past achievements, every now and then. He is particularly proud of his lifting the mount Kailash over his shoulders, with the Lord and his consort sitting on it. However, he would prefer to omit the sequel to it, the Lord pressing his toe slightly and his being entrenched under the massive weight of the mountain for years on end. He would love to flaunt his might, of fighting the ashta dhik gaja (guardian elephants of the eight directions) and winning them over, single-handed. All the rakshasas would invariably start their address to him with one or the reference to his deeds, for that pleased his ego. He was virtually living in a house of mirrors, seeing and enjoying his own reflection everywhere and anywhere that he turned.
Ravana moves in to fight
He was apprised of the siege of Lanka by the vanara warriors. He has all along been telling that it would not befit his dignity to fight with those two puny, two-handed creatures, Rama and Lakshmana and the puniest of all, monkeys, that lived on fruits, flowers and vegetables. The mighty Ravana should have an opponent of equal strength. For him, it was like a man deciding to wrestle with ants and worms. However, he decides to go to the battlefield on the first day, to fight with (in his own words) ‘those creatures that were armed with stones, branches, nails and teeth.’ ‘When Ravana enters the field, will you go back with your lives intact?’
The combat with Lakshmana
He moves like tornado in the sea of vanara army, seventy vahinis of them. His mighty and tall figure crushing the monkeys to death, causing destruction everywhere. Lakshmana encounters him. On seeing Ravana, Lakshmana’s blood boils. ‘You can’t escape now O thief, who schemed and stole Sita from my protection’. So saying Lakshmana swiftly bent his bow and showered Ravana with the sharpest of arrows. Ravana stopped all of them, mid way in the air and destroyed them. A long battle ensued and Lakshmana was gaining an upper hand. At that time, Ravana aimed an arrow at Lakshmana’s quiver and broke it. Kamban says:
Thoongum sara nedum puttilin sudar velavarkku ilayan
Vaangum saram vangaa vagai aruththan aram maruththan
 ‘Ravana, the one who goes against Dharma, broke the quiver (arrow case) of Lakshmana that was hanging from his shoulder so that he could take no more of his arrows, immediately.’ That stopped Lakshmana’s action for a while. Ravana was gaining an upper hand.
Hanuman saw this situation from a distance. Lakshmana should be enabled to move away from the field for a while. More important, he should move away in such a manner that it does not cause disgrace. The mighty Ravana must set his mind on something else at least for a time. His attention should be diverted. It should be done immediately, without wasting a second. Ravana could not be trusted to show that kind chivalry at this moment to allow time for Lakshmana to resume.
He swung into action. It was a battle of wits in the first instance, rather than test of strength. Hanuman used the bloated ego of Ravana and played upon it, to divert his attention. We will see that in our next instalment.
(To be continued)
Hari Krishnan
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